Vehicle-wheel



M. TIBBETTS.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

. APPLICATION FILED ocT. 2L. 1914.

1,330,222. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

ax i E is to make a vehicle wheel with a Ell -l rare unripe.

MILTON TIBBETTS, OF DE'LJ'ROKI, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PACKARD MOTOR GAB.

COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIG-A N, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Fee. to, 1920.

Application filed October 21, 1914. Serial No. 867,839.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, MILTON TIBBETTS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Detroit, lVayne county, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, oi which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle wheels, and particularly to wheels for use on motor vehicles.

One of the objects of the present invention cushioning element arranged adjacent its periphery and independent of the tire and to so con.- nect the parts or the wheel separated by the cushioning element that the driving and side thrusts on the wheel will not injuriously' separate them.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation and part sectional view of a vehicle wheel made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the outer portion of the wheel shown in. Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a slightly modified form of the wheel shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. l is a transverse section showing another form of the invention;

Fig. 5 illustrates the assembly of the parts of the wheel shown in Fig. 4e; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view 'et' one end retaining ring.

Referring to the drawings, the wheel illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a hub 10, spoKes 11, and a rim 12, which supports the tire 13 of any suitable construction. The telly of this wheel however is of unusual construction, being formed of inner and outer telly members let and 15 respectively. The spokes 11 extend into and are secured to the inner telly member 1 1', and the members 1% and 15 are separated somewhahthus forming an annular space between them. As shown, this space is irregular in cross sectlon, the walls being inclined in cross section from the median plane toward both ends or sides or" the space.

In Fig. 2, a section of one of the inclined walls-of the annular space is formed by a of the detachable or removable ring 16, which is 1 I I I ward bow of the 'SIdB covers at all times,

shown as wedge-shaped in cross section. Thus the ring, which is preferably a split ring, is readily fitted into the space to form.

one of the inclined walls as shown. This ring 16 may be provided at intervals along its edge with lugs 17 having U-shaped spaces 18 adapted to fit around the bolts 19 hereinafter more fully described, for the purpose of retaining the ring against circumferential movement on the felly mem.

her.

A cushioning element 20 is adapted to be inserted between the inner and outer telly members and practically fill the annular space referred to. is preferably formed in sections and may be of molded rubber. If desired, it may be This cushioning element corrugated as shown or other suitable forms may be used.

It will be understood that the rubber sections will be inserted in the annular space between the inner and outer felly members with the retaining ring 16 removed. The. retaining ring is then pressed intoplace and the parts secured together as hereinafter described. It will be seen also that thrusts on the outer member relative to the any side '88 inner member will cause a compression of 1' one half or the other of the cushioning ele- I ment, the latter thereby tending to prevent undue lateral movement of one of the any members relative to the other.

For the purpose of closing the'sides of the annular space and retaining the various parts in place, side covers 21 are provided, one for each side of the wheel. These side covers are preferably .of rubber composition or rubber combined with fabric to give strength, and they are each secured to both the inner and the outer felly member. 111- ner-securing strips 22 and bolts 23 secure the side covers to the inner telly member, and outer securing -strips 2d and the bolts 19 above referred to secure the side covers to the outer telly member. It will be seen that these latter bolts also secure the retaining rings 16 in place. I

In Fig. 3 a slight modification of the wheel shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is illustrated. In this form, the parts are all thesame as in 2 except the cushioning member :20, which is shown as extending slightly beyond the ends of the annular space so; that the middle portion of the side covers Q'Lis bulged outwardly somewhat. This insures a closer fit of the various parts and causes an outthis assisting in prolonging their life.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the inner and outer walls of the annular space between the telly members are curved in cross section. The walls are shown as substantially concentric although they need not be exactly so. The

rubber blocks composing the cushioning member are made with correspondingly curved opposite faces so that they may be inserted into the space as shown particularly in Fi 5 where one of the blocks is illustrated as partly inserted. As shown, these blocks also extend slightly beyond the ends'of the annular space as in the form shown in Fig. 3.

Other forms of the invention. will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the'art, and the claims are understood as not limited to the exact shown.

' Having thus described my invention, what I. claim and desire to secure by Letters Pate:'1tis:--

1, In a. vehicle Wheel, the combination with and outer telly members sepa -rated to :torm an annular space between them, a cushioning element adapted to be inserted into said space from one side, a retainingring cooperating with said cush-. inning elcmcnt, and side covers secured to hoti'hoi said telly members.

2, a vehicle wheel, the combination with inn; and outer folly members separated to form an annular space between forms of the invention herein.

them, a. cushioning element adapted to be inserted into said'space from one side, a retaining ring cooperating with said cushion; ing element and secured against circumferential movement on onejof said felly members, and side covers over the sides of said spaces secured to both of said .felly members.

3. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with inner and outer felly members separated to form an annular space between them, a detachable retaining ring forming an inclined wall for part of said space, a cushioning element adapted to be'inserted in said space when the retaining ring is removed, and means for retaining said ring in place.

4. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with inner and outer fclly members sepa rated to "form an annular space between them, a detachable retaining ring of wedge cross section forming a wall for part of said space, a cushioning element adapted to be inscrted'in said space when the retaining ring is removed, and means for retaining said ring in position. v

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

, MILTON TIBBETTJS. iVitnesses LE R01 J \VILLIAMS, CLAIR J. Corn. 

